When we moved to North Vancouver in 1995, we lived on Sunnyhurst Road, two blocks from the Lynn Valley strip mall (the one with the Dairy Queen). The mall is part of a 3.5-acre land parcel that includes Draycott Gardens—the rental townhouse complex built in 1972. Polygon hopes to develop four six-storey buildings that include a mix of strata and rental units and commercial properties (see Abby Luciano’s March 25 story). It’s been years since I visited the strip mall and I realized why after taking a walk around the proposed development last week. The mall is well over half-a-century old now and looks it.
The DQ is still there as is the vet, the butcher, a sushi restaurant and the Montessori preschool where my daughter attended 27 years ago. There’s a private liquor store, which was once a KFC, and those of you who were around before 1971, will remember a Quonset hut that housed the Cedar V Theatre.
Most people who attended the two public meetings at district hall in mid-April were in favour of the development, as am I. Lynn Valley is desperately in need of affordable rental housing, and this proposal includes 64 of them. What concerns me is that Ross Plaza, which is not owned by Polygon, and the Card House at 1202 Ross Road which is, are not included in the plan.
1202 Ross Road:
When we moved to Lynn Valley over three decades ago, the green craftsman house that sits on a triple lot across the road from McDonalds, was still in good shape. I was a member of the DNV Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) when it was one of 133 heritage buildings deemed important enough to put on the district’s Heritage Register. Unfortunately, inclusion on the register doesn’t mean protection.
And that concerns both Jennifer Clay,president of North Shore Heritage and Jim Paul, architect and chair of HAC.
Clay reckons that the district missed the boat when it neglected to offer Polygon any incentives to restore and retain the house. Without a heritage agreement in place, the district is helpless when it comes to ensuring that Polygon takes care of the house. For instance, if the house was restored it could eventually become part of a multi-family housing complex such as the McNair residence on East 6th or even a restaurant such as Navvy Jack House in West Vancouver.
Clay worries that because Polygon does not own Ross Plaza and possibly never will, Card House will be left to deteriorate—what heritage advocates call demolition by neglect.
“When that new development goes in the house will start to look pretty sad and I’m concerned that people will treat it with less respect than it deserves and call for its demolition,” adds Paul.
Built in 1913:
The house was built in 1913 and owned by William Card, who worked at the Lynn Valley Lumber Company and fought in the First World War. As Clay points out, it’s one of the few remaining buildings related to the logging history of Lynn Valley.
The house is barely recognizable from its photo on the Heritage Register—it’s now wrapped inside a chain link fence, boarded up and partially covered by a blue tarp.
Paul wants council to undertake a Statement of Significance for 1202 Ross Road and put a covenant in place that designates the house as a heritage asset for the District of North Van in perpetuity. He’d also like to see the district implement a heritage maintenance bylaw to force property owners to look after our dwindling heritage assets.
The other threat, says Paul, comes from the Provincial Government in the form of Bill 25—small-scale, multi-unit housing which is being pushed upon municipalities. Essentially the bill takes away local government’s right to manage its own community by overriding local bylaws. In other words, it gives developers the right to tear down any building not legally protected before November 2025.
The district has so far refused to make the zoning changes, but if the province decides to force the issue, then none of our heritage buildings are safe.
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Demolition by neglect is becoming the norm it seems. I grew up in Niagara Falls and lived in London afterwards while attending college. The amount of heritage homes and buildings that this is happening to astounding. Developers buy these older buildings with that intent añd the cities allow it. I think it’s absolutely sickening. Ironically, my son lives just down the road from there on Mountain Highway with his family. I’d never been to that mall until this week when I went to the DQ. I don’t recall seeing this house but it would be a real shame if it was torn down. I wonder who owns it añd why they are neglecting it.
It’s owned by Polygon
Soon there will be no nostalgia left on the North Shore. I used to happy with living on the North Shore (born & raised) but question all areas of government weather it be provincial or local. I know we need to grow but I think we need some new infrastructure 1st.
I don’t live in North Vancouver, rather West Vancouver in Dundarave.
What is happening to our village is shocking. A quarter of it is shut down. (HALF the south side of the block). The company that was going to redevelop it has gone bankrupt. I had a business in the village from 1999 to 2010. During that time we lost the stationery shop, Fish and Chip shop, Jim’s Hardware, Harry’s Market and our beloved (Canadian owned) Capers. I ran the village for 12 years and it was heartbreaking to see this happen only for the buildings to be abandoned.
I bought my house in the 1980’s and since I have lived on my street of the thirty two houses then only EIGHT remain (Mine being one)….this is called progress! And the lovely gardens of course also gone. Well – enough of griping. Won’t get me anywhere..😔
I lived in Lynn Valley from about 1958 to 1961. I remember well attending the Cedar V matinee while my parents shopped at Super-Valu. I attended Lynn Valley Elementary, Upper Lynn Elementary when it opened, and Argyle Secondary when it opened. Along with the Card House there are other places that need to be preserved.
This is ,or could be a beautiful house, it has unfortunately been allowed to deteriorate beyond the point of economically feasible to repair. I was asked at least 20 years ago to inspect the structural supports, at that time there was a lot of work required to replace rotten supports. The owners at that time felt it was too expensive to repair so I can imagine that after another 20 years of neglect and todays costs, it would very costly to restore this building to the grand structure that it once was.
Having worked nearby in Lynn Valley for 13 years, until 2019, I walked by — and admired — that house on many occasions. What a shame it is to see the photo showing its current deteriorated state. Yes, the Card Residence definitely should be protected by the municipality.
Chucks house.. spent many a night in the parlor … up to no good most of the time